BILL LOWERING MINIMUM AGE FOR RIFLE PURCHASES IN FLORIDA PASSES HOUSE
Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would lower the minimum age for rifle purchases, shotguns and other long guns, from 21 to 18.
This legislation seeks to undo part of a law passed in 2018 after the Parkland school shooting, which raised the purchasing age in an effort to improve public safety. On Wednesday, March 12th, the latest version of the legislation – House Bill 759 – cleared its first committee hearing with a split vote.
The bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman, recently passed its first committee in the Florida House. Supporters, including House Speaker Daniel Perez and Governor Ron DeSantis, argue that if 18-year-olds can serve in the military, they should also be able to buy firearms. DeSantis pointed out the inconsistency of allowing young adults to serve in combat yet restricting their ability to purchase a rifle for hunting.
However, opponents believe rolling back the age limit would be a dangerous step backward. Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman strongly opposed the bill, calling it an insult to the families of Parkland victims who fought to strengthen Florida’s gun laws.
While the bill has momentum in the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Senate President Ben Albritton has not committed to supporting it and wants to carefully consider its implications. Past efforts to lower the gun-buying age have struggled in the Senate, with previous Senate President Kathleen Passidomo outright rejecting similar proposals.
If passed, the bill would align Florida’s firearm purchasing laws with federal regulations, allowing 18-year-olds to buy long guns from both licensed dealers and private sellers. However, federal law still requires individuals to be at least 21 to purchase handguns from licensed dealers.
This debate is part of a larger national conversation on gun laws. At the federal level, some lawmakers have introduced bills to lower the minimum age for purchasing handguns from 21 to 18, while others are pushing to raise age limits for certain firearms. These competing efforts highlight the ongoing divide over Second Amendment rights and public safety concerns.
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